The One Noticeable Thing Lately on Portland, Maine, Streets

This may happen outside of Portland, and maybe even outside of Maine overall. But lately, it seems especially noticeable in Portland, and more specifically in the Old Port and Monument Square areas of Portland.

Maine Laws

According to Maine State Law (specifically Title 29-A Subsection 2056,4):

...any vehicle must yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian who has entered a marked crosswalk when a traffic control device is not in operation.

Basically, anybody in a crosswalk that isn't an intersection with traffic lights or a Walk/Don't Walk sign has the right of way, and anytime they step foot in the crosswalk, pedestrians have to stop and let them cross. Which is completely understandable.

But here's what's super noticeable lately, and most specifically, routinely at the intersection of Preble Street and Congress Street in Portland -- where there actually is a traffic light and a Walk/Don't Walk signal.

Pedestrians literally do not care, and just cross the street randomly. On a red light for vehicles, on a green light, it doesn't matter -- as soon as they approach the intersection, they don't even slow down. They jet right out into the intersection, usually causing vehicles with a green light to stop on a dime.

It's not even the fact they just go, but it's the fact they're not even cautious about it. At first, it seemed like it was just tourists since it happened a lot during tourist season, but we're very much out of that time now and it's still happening.

And with the colder weather now dominating the atmosphere for the next couple of months, bringing with it a chance of ice (either noticeable or not), pedestrians just lunging into the crosswalk without a cautious slowdown to survey the situation or even looking anywhere but straight ahead, it brings with it a bit of danger.

If the intersection has any bit of ice on it and a driver has to unexpectedly slam on their brakes at a moment's notice, the aftermath could be catastrophic for both the driver and pedestrian, if, Heaven forbid, the driver loses control due to the ice.

And this also goes for a perfect, sunny, 90-degree summer day. Pedestrians just darting out into an intersection out of nowhere is just so dangerous. By all means, they should have the right of way. But is it too much to ask for at least a quick look to see what's happening around you?

Accidental vehicular homicide probably isn't on a lot of Mainers' bucket lists.